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Message from the Dean

Braving the Challenges of the New Era with the Spirit of Independence and Self-Respect

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The Keio University Faculty of Economics has the longest history in Japan among faculties that specialize in economics. Our faculty has been at the forefront of the study of economics in Japan since its establishment in 1890 as the Department of Economics. Our pedagogy is rooted in the ethos of hangaku-hankyo, or “learning while teaching, teaching while learning,” whereby pupil and teacher learn from each other, and we continue to produce many outstanding graduates who hold positions in various fields including business, academia, politics, and government.

The Keio University Faculty of Economics not only adheres to tradition, but also continues to evolve in response to internal and external developments. Since entering the 21st century, the faculty has focused its efforts on globalization, expanding its study abroad programs, implementing double degree programs with overseas universities, and establishing the Professional Career Program (PCP), which provides a practical education in economics in English. While the faculty is large in scale, it also provides more intimate educational settings through its Research Seminars, General Education Seminars, and Independent Research Projects. In addition, from the 2022 academic year, the faculty began offering the Data-driven Economics and Econometrics Program (DEEP) and the Fieldwork for Active Comprehension of Targeted Subjects (FACTS) program to enhance expertise in data science and field research respectively. From the 2026 academic year, the faculty will launch the Plurilingual and Pluricultural Studies, a program for advanced learning of a wide range of foreign languages.

These efforts demonstrate our faculty’s commitment to the continuous development of educational programs for the cultivation of future experts who will lead the economy and society.

The Keio University Faculty of Economics offers such rich educational programs with the commitment of its excellent researchers. Our staff are leaders in academia making valuable contributions to the real world, not only in economics, but in a range of other fields. Our team of researchers are passionate about higher education and will do their utmost to support your growth here at the Faculty of Economics.

Confronted by pandemics, conflicts around the world, a rapidly aging population, and the dramatic advancement of AI technology among other trends, the constant need for social reform cannot be understated. Remaining complacent in the old ways can only lead to future decline.

In these times, we should not leave it to others to take initiative. Instead, we should look toward the fundamental spirit of “independence and self-respect,” a key ethos of Keio University, as our guiding principle. Independence and self-respect signify “the maintenance of one’s personal dignity and acting on one’s own judgement with the responsibility this entails in everything.” In order to tackle challenges never encountered previously and to build a better society, we need each and every individual to actively express their thoughts and opinions.

To present convincing arguments, we will require not only the knowledge accumulated by our predecessors, but also the power of both traditional wisdom and new insights, integrated with novel technologies. At the Faculty of Economics, we believe in the potential of our students and their ability to learn this wisdom through their interactions with a diverse cohort, becoming leaders who will take on the challenges of our new and yet uncertain era.

Hiroki Kawai, Dean of the Faculty of Economics

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